College Football Countdown | No. 120: UAB

Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY Sports 8:43 a.m. MDT May 5, 2014

USA TODAY Sports' Paul Myerberg counts down to the start of the college football season team by team from No. 128 to No. 1.

UAB wide receiver Jamarcus Nelson (1) is grabbed by Southern Miss defensive back Alexander Walters (31) in a game last Nov. 30 at Legion Field. Nelson is a key returnee for the Blazers this season.(Photo: Marvin Gentry, USA TODAY Sports)

The less said of the previous regime the better, though we could spend a few paragraphs detailing its rapid demise. Let's look forward: UAB has a new coach, Bill Clark, and unlike the old coach he seems invested in the entire structure of the Blazers' program, not just the locks on the front door.

UAB might not be Alabama, but it's in Alabama – and that's probably good enough for Clark, an Alabama lifer who, like all good Alabamans, left briefly but couldn't stay away. Born in Anniston, educated at Jacksonville State; first job at Piedmont High School, then Tuscaloosa County High School, then two years in Georgia, then back home to Dothan.

Prattville High School, where he went nine years and lost just 11 games, winning 106. A few years at South Alabama as Joey Jones' defensive coordinator, then one year back at his alma mater, now at UAB. Clark seems like the kind of guy who would push his car from Carrollton to fill up an empty tank within state lines – which is just the guy the Blazers need, of course.

Not that it's going to be easy, but you knew that already. Short on talent, bare of even a sliver of depth, beaten down by the last two years and wary of the Football Bowl Subdivision newcomers in its relative backyard, UAB steps in behind Clark and embarks on the rebuilding project that just might work. The first step is always the hardest.

LAST YEAR'S PREDICTION:

The Blazers are getting there. McGee pushes this bunch, looking to get the best out of every practice, all with the goal of creating the sort of winning environment needed to rip this program out of its long and painful malaise. Even if this season doesn't lead UAB to its postseason goal, the Blazers should show enough progression – and develop enough young talent – to be a factor in the new-look Conference USA race in 2014. But it's vital that UAB's young players progress over the next 12 games.

2013 RECAP:

In a nutshell: UAB didn't even wave the white towel heading into the season finale against Southern Mississippi, a team mired in 23 losses in a row; the Blazers simply quit, giving up 62 points to the Golden Eagles in a fitting end to an utterly disastrous two-year stint under Garrick McGee, who stepped down in January to rejoin Bobby Petrino at Louisville. Goodbye, farewell, we'll call you. For all his dictatorial leanings, McGee's results reeked of a coach buried by the weight of responsibility: UAB regressed from his first day to his last, first losing the schematic advantage and then the locker room. That it's over is the lone bright spot.

High point: A 27-24 victory against Florida International on Oct. 12. The Blazers would split games against a pair of one-win teams, beating the Golden Panthers – hitting the game-winning field goal with 10 seconds left – but losing to the Golden Eagles.

Low point: The finale. Embarrassing even for a team accustomed to embarrassment.

Tidbit: UAB has had four coaches in its history: Jim Hilyer from 1991-94, Watson Brown from 1995-2006, Neil Callaway from 2006-11 and McGee from 2012-13. The winning percentages get smaller as you go, with Hilyer taking 68.3% of his games, Brown 45.6%, Callaway 30% and McGee 20.8%. At this rate of regression, Clark would win 14% of his games. Don't worry: That's not going to happen.

Tidbit (coaching edition): Clark's debut staff is loaded with familiar faces. New offensive coordinator Bryant Vincent worked with Clark at South Alabama, coaching the Jaguars' quarterbacks. Defensive coordinator Duwan Walker has worked for Clark for 16 years, last season in the same position at Jacksonville State. Assistant head coach and running backs coach Jody Wright comes from Jacksonville State, as do offensive line coach Mike Bennefield, inside linebackers coach Chuck Dunn, defensive line coach David Reeves, outside linebackers coach Daric Riley and wide receivers coach Cornelius Williams.

Offense: The offense you see today won't be the same tomorrow, after the Blazers add a slew of JUCO transfers and true freshmen into the mix along the two-deep. One newcomer has already arrived and grabbed the starting role: JUCO transfer Cody Clements ascended to the top spot shortly into spring ball, moving ahead of redshirt freshman Jeremiah Briscoe and juniors Mike Miller and Myles McKee. Though Briscoe could make the competition interesting with a strong performance in August, he seems destined for a backup role and a spot in certain packages. For all the position's faults, one thing UAB did moderately well last fall was avoid turnovers. Let's see if Clements can do the same as the new starter.

Once healthy – he's dealing with offseason shoulder surgery – sophomore Jordan Howard (881 yards) will be the leader in a backfield retooling without Darrin Reaves, one of the bright spots on last season's forgettable offense. If UAB feels confident that Howard will deliver when back in the fold, the spring allowed Clark to get a look at a pair of backs: D.J. Vinson, now academically eligible, and Ja'Won Arrington, a transfer from Alabama A&M. The Blazers also have junior Bashr Coles, who flashed some burst in a change-of-pace role in 2012 but was stymied last fall by the aftershocks of a knee injury. Vinson and Arrington are unproven, but UAB should feel good about its depth behind Howard – but should be concerned if the potential all-conference sophomore misses extended time.

UAB is hoping that swift running back Jordan Howard will make a successful return from offseason shoulder surgery.(Photo: Marvin Gentry, USA TODAY Sports)

Clark should be pleased with the size, speed and depth at wide receiver: UAB returns a very nice duo in senior Jamarcus Nelson (42 receptions for 846 yards) and sophomore Jamari Staples (31 for 458), two field-stretching targets, and has the bodies to roll out multiple-receiver sets with some ease, even if the second tier of the two-deep lacks optimal experience. Some combination of Nolen Smith, Maudrecus Humphrey and Darius Powell will get looks inside and in the slot; UAB will also use tight end Kennard Backman (28 for 302) in a number of roles, searching for ways to free the wide-bodied senior in the intermediate game. Receiver is the clear and unquestioned strength of the team.

Defense: Last year's group allowed a whopping 10.1 yards per pass attempt against FBS competition – basically, opponents earned a first down every time the quarterback dropped back to pass. Only one FBS opponent, Troy, tossed less than two touchdowns; instead, the Trojans completed 30-of-33 attempts for 319 yards in the season opener, setting a tone that would continue unabated for the remainder of the season. Any reasons for optimism? An upgrade along the sidelines is one, but I can't find another: UAB has serious issues in its pass rush and the secondary, two negatives that point to another long fall on the defensive side of the ball.

Maybe a pair of healthy safeties can help seal the back end of the defense. The Blazers welcome back senior Jay Davis and junior Calvin Jones at strong and free safety, respectively, after the pair battled through injuries in a lost 2013 season. Both will need to fend off JUCO transfers like Bobby Baker and Darvell Harris, two summer arrivals, as well as youngsters Tajh Lowe and Nick Jackson, the springtime backups. The Blazers have options at cornerback, though none inspire confidence. As at safety, the trio that topped the spring two-deep at cornerback – Jimmy Jean, LaMarcus Farmer and Kelton Brackett – will have their hands full battling with the JUCO transfers. That the depth chart is unsettled is a good thing, but don't expect any miracles: UAB is not in good shape in the secondary.

Yeah, JUCO signees will rule the day at defensive tackle – continuing a trend seen throughout the roster. Two, Robert Mondie and Parrish Huddleston, will see extensive time inside, joining juniors Jontavius Morris, Uneik Crumbley and Daron Wright. On the outside, on the other hand, UAB will stand pat with holdovers like Diaheem Watkins (37 tackles, 5.5 sacks), Chris Rabb (35 tackles) Chris Walton and Shaquille Robertson, though many missed time in the spring due to injuries. One thing you'll see up front is flexibility: UAB runs a 3-4 front with a rush outside linebacker, so the entire line must learn to play multiple positions hinging on down and distance. While he was slowed in April, Watkins is an intriguing piece from a rush standpoint.

As was the case up front, two major contributors at linebacker were absent for much of the spring. When the dust clears in August, Jake Ganus (93 tackles, 8.0 for loss) and Destin Challenger will be heavy favorites for starting jobs; for now, the two-deep lacks proven production. The likely scenario: Challenger takes over in the middle, Ganus on the weak side and junior Derek Slaughter on the strong side – or some variation thereof. That would be UAB's most talented threesome, at least, even if the staff wants to find roles for Ervin Alston, Jalan Coleman and JUCO transfer Kalen Jackson, a converted safety.

Special teams: They won't earn praise outside of Birmingham, but the duo of kicker Ty Long and punter Hunter Mullins is terrific. Long in particular could challenge for postseason accolades should he rediscover his consistency in the 45-yard range. Nelson and Farmer are underrated assets in the return game.

POSITION(S) TO WATCH:

Offensive line: Take the spring lineup with a grain of salt: UAB will add four JUCO transfers and three freshmen up front before August, so no grouping seems as poised for a preseason shakeup. As is – and again, this might change – look for sophomore Victor Salko and junior Cameron Blankenship to bookend the line at tackle with junior Roscoe Byrd, redshirt freshman Zach Sims and senior Brian O'Leary inside when the Blazers retake the practice field. Of this group, Sims seems the most likely to be unseated in August, due not only to his lack of experience but the number of JUCO additions slotted to being their UAB careers along the interior. Even if the starting five remains the same, the JUCO transfers will add much-needed depth: UAB had none to speak of in April, a fact that along with weather concerns helped lead the program to cancel its spring game. Credit Clark for attacking a problem at the source, but the line is a major question mark. Much is riding on the JUCO transfers grabbing hold of the system in August – and if not, it could be a disaster of a season up front.

GAME(S) TO WATCH:

Florida International: Beating Troy in the opener would be nice, but the biggest early-season game comes against FIU on Sept. 27. If we ignore the two road dates with SEC foes – Mississippi State and Arkansas – the schedule itself isn't unkind: UAB pulls FIU and Alabama A&M at home, doesn't play Marshall until Nov. 22 and avoids Rice and UTSA from the West Division. Clark might want to bottle this schedule for the 2016 season.

SEASON BREAKDOWN & PREDICTION:

In a nutshell: To say the Blazers lack any talent would be incorrect: UAB is strong at wide receiver, for example, and should feelgood about the situations at linebacker, running back and the kicking game. In another year – say, two years from now – a similar talent level in conjunction with a stronger foundation of depth, experience and philosophy could yield a winning season, or at least a rare push toward bowl eligibility. As is, however, UAB as a whole needs time to adjust to a new schematic blueprint while awaiting an influx of talent and depth, a combination that leaves the Blazers playing catchup in advance of Clark's debut.

As elsewhere, the first step is a change in mentality. How bad were the last two seasons? Perhaps worse off the field than on, if that can be believed, and improving the Blazers' tattered sense of confidence might be the top priority on Clark's to-do list. This wouldn't be terribly difficult had McGee's turn been an aberration – it's not, of course, as UAB's streak of losing seasons now dates back nine years and three coaches. Teaching a program how to win, let alone to expect to win, is the toughest part of any lower-tier FBS position. Add in a roster set for an August overhaul and you have the recipe for a sluggish debut.

In the win column, at least. Here's what Clark is working with: UAB has a new quarterback, an injured star running back and no current depth up front, let alone a strong starting five; on defense, the Blazers need help in the pass rush while dealing with a weak secondary, even if fall camp should mark the return of two nice contributors on the second level. Today, neither the offense nor the defense have what it takes to charge into the top half of Conference USA's very deep East Division. Here's the mantra for 2014: We'll be better tomorrow.